Sponge back washer

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION IS A SPONGE BACK WASHER, AND CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR BASE HAVING UPSTANDING FLANGES ON EACH EDGE, THE FLANGES ON THE LONG EDGES ALSO THEN EXTENDING INWARDLY INTO COOPERATIVE SLITS ON A CELLULOSE SPONGE PLACED ON THE BASE BETWEEN THE UPSTANDING FLANGES. AS SUCH, IT SERVES AS A SPONGE HOLDER FOR USE AS A BACK WASHER AS WELL AS ELESWHERE, BUT FOR PARTICULAR USE IN WASHING ONE&#39;&#39;S BACK, THE HOLDER IS ALSO PROVIDED WITH A CURVED HANDLE PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE BASE FACE OF THE BASE AND EXTENDIBLE TO A POSITION FORWARDLY OF THE FORWARD FACE OF THE SPONGE.

March: 9, 1971 FIG. 2

w. L. RHODES 3,568,237

SPONGE BACK WASHER Filed Dec. 50, 1968 M Will/0m Lee Rhodes ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflflce Patented Mar. 9, 1971 US. Cl. 15--244 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a sponge back washer. and consists of a rectangular base having upstanding flanges on each edge, the flanges on the long edges also then extending inwardly into cooperative slits on a cellulose sponge placed on the base between the upstanding flanges. As such, it serves as a sponge holder for use as a back Washer as well as elsewhere, but for particular use in washing ones back, the holder is also provided with a curved handle pivotally secured to the base face of the base and extendible to a position forwardly of the forward face of the sponge.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a sponge holder for holding a sponge for use in washing oneself, and in addition, a sponge holder to which a handle, preferably curved, may be pivoted for particular use in washing ones back as well as other normally less accessible areas of oneself.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sponge holder having a flat rectangular base having upstanding flanges on each edge, with two opposite flanges also extending inwardly to thus grip a sponge inserted therebetween against being lost from the base.

A further object of this invention is to provide a back washing sponge holder having a handle to which the holder base is pivotally secured so that the sponge on the holder may be used on any and all areas of the body of the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sponge back washer 'which will securely yet removably hold a sponge therein, which may be inserted when wet and which is firmly held therein until deliberately removed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sponge holder and handle which may be made of suitable high impact plastic of any desirable color to match the decor of the bathroom, and can be used with any type of sponge, buit is particularly useful with a plastic or cellulose sponge which expands when wet to remain securely in position both when wet and dry so as not to be lost therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention consists of a rectangular high impact plastic rectangular base, having upstanding flanges on each of the four edges, the flanges on preferably the two longer edges also then extending inwardly parallel to the base, a cellulose sponge being inserted against the face of the base with slits in two opposite long edges cooperating with the inwardly extending flanges to thus hold the sponge firmly in place. A cellulose sponge expands when wet, and the dry sponge is of about the size of the holder, but is inserted while wet, so as to be flexible, and be compressed into position between the flanges with the inwardly extending flanges extending into appropriate slits in the sides of the sponge. As thus, it is usable as a sponge holder per se, but a curved handle is pivotally securable at the rear face of the holder base preferably between upstanding ears extending parallel to the long sides of the base, and the curved handle is extendible to have its handle end extend forwardly of the forward face of the sponge. By making the pivot pin readily removable and replaceable, it may beused as a sponge holder either with or without the curved hande for washing use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the back sponge washer of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top rear plan view of the washer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the sponge holder, on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sponge holder, with a fragment of the sponge in position, on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There is shown at 10 the back sponge washer of this invention, consisting of a sponge 12, preferably of cellulose, or other similar plastic material, sponge holder 14, a curved handle 16, and a readily removable and replaceable pivot pin 18 for holding one end 20 of the handle 16 removably between upstanding ears 22 on the rear face of the rectangular base 24 of the sponge holder 14, it being noted that the ears 22 extend parallel to the long edges 26 of the rectangular base 24.

The pivot pin 18 is removably and replaceably held in position through the handle end 20 and the ears 22 in any suitable manner, such as by having a compressible Teflon O-ring 27 partly countersunk on the pivot pin 18 adjacent its end. As thus constructed, it will readily snap into or out of holding position, enabled the holder 14 and sponge 12 to be used with or without the handle 16 in the washing operation.

The sponge holder 14 consists of a flat rectangular base 24 on the rear face of which the aforesaid ears 22 are secured. Flanges 28 upstand at right angles on long edges 26 to the front face 34 of the base 24 of holder 14, and such upstanding flanges 28 support flanges 32 extending inwardly at right angles thereto, and thus parallel to the plane of the base 24.

Extending inwardly from the other two short edges 30 of the base 24 and spaced slightly less than the distance between the inward flanges 32, are upstanding flanges 36.

The upstanding flanges 28 and 36 prevent the sponge 12 from moving laterally from the front face 34 of the holder 14, and the inward flanges 32 prevent the sponge from moving vertically away from the front face 34 of base 14.

The cellulose sponge 14 is preferably of the same overall size as the holder 14- when dry, and has two inwardly extending slits 38 into which the flanges 32 are inserted when the sponge is wet and expanded to firmly hold the sponge in place.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In operation, the wet cellulose sponge 12 is placed against the front face 34 of the holder 14, its long side edges being pushed under the inward flanges 32 until the slits 38 envelope the inward flanges 32, thus holding the sponge firmly in the holder for use alone.

When used as a back washer, the handle end 20 is pivotally secured between the ears 22 by pushing the pivot pin 18 through the aligned apertures in the handle end 20 and ears 22, the partly countersunk Teflon O-ring 27 compressing to pass through the aligned apertures and then expanding to hold the pivot pin 22 in holding position.

In the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts, and for the purposes of explication, set forth below are the numbered parts of the improved sponge back washer:

10 back sponge washer 12 sponge 14 holder 16 curved handle 18 pivot pin 20 pivot end of handle 16 22 cars 24 rectangular base 26 long edges of base 24 27 Teflon O-ring 28 long upstanding flanges 30 short edges of base 24 32 inwardly extending flanges 34 front face of base 24 36 short upstanding flanges 38 slits in sponge 12 Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A sponge back washer (10) comprising a sponge holder (14), said holder (14) comprising a flat rectangular base (24), an upstanding flange (36) on each of two opposite edges (30) of said base (24), and an upstanding (28) and then inwardly (32) extending flange on the other two side edges (26) of said flat base (24'), said upstanding flanges (28 and 36) serving to retain a sponge (12) on said base (24) against lateral movement therefrom, said inwardly extending flanges (32) serving to retain the sponge (12) against vertical movement away from said base (24), a handle (16) pivotally secured to the rear face of said base (24), a pair of ears (22) upstanding from said rear face, substantially centrally thereof, and a pivot pin (18) through said upstanding ears and through one end (20) of said handle (16) therebetween, said washer handle (16) being curved in an arch from its pivoting end (20) toward its handle end, said handle end being pivotal'to a position (FIG.

5. 1) forward of the plane of the forward face (34) of said base (24!).

2. A sponge back washer (10) comprising a sponge holder (14), said holder (14) comprising a flat rectangular base (24), an upstanding flange (3 6) on each of two opposite edges (30) of said base (24), and an upstanding (28) and then inwardly (32) extending flange on the other two side edges (26) of said flat base (24), said upstanding flanges (28 and 36) serving to retain a sponge (12) on said base (24) against lateral movement therefrom, said inwardly extending flanges (32) serving to retain a sponge (12) against vertical movement away from said base (24), said short edge (30) upstanding flanges (36) being of less length than said supporting edge (30) by a distance slightly greater than the space between the inward edges of said inwardly extending flanges (32), in combination with a sponge (12) held on said base (24) between said upstanding flanges (28 and 36), said sponge (12) having inwardly extending slits (38) into which said inwardly extending flanges (32) are inserted, and a pair of cars (22) parallel to the long sides (26) of said rectangular base (24) upstanding from the rear face thereof, a pivot pin (18) extending through said ears (22) and through one end (20) of a curved handle (16) extending therebetween, the opposite end of said handle being pivotal to a plane forward of the forward face of said sponge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1890 Switzerland 15-244 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 15 144 

